Ruth Marilyn Fife Zink

Ruth Marilyn Fife Zink was born on April 12, 1924, in Minneapolis, Minn., the daughter of Hazel Ruth McClard Fife and Glenn Delbert Fife. She died on Nov. 4, 2019, in Ocala, Fla.

She married Walter Leo Zink Jr. on Nov. 20, 1947. He preceded her in death on March 13, 2004.

She was a graduate of the University of Minnesota. 

She was a teacher and synchronized swim coach for over 30 years.

Mrs. Zink was a member of the United States Synchronized Swimming Hall of Fame and the Minnesota Synchronized Swimming Hall of Fame.

She served as a national and international synchronized swimming judge. She was a member of the U.S. Synchronized Swimming Olympic selection committee numerous times.

Mrs. Zink was a member of the First Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Anna. She went on church mission trips to Jackson, Miss., and to Gulf Shores, Ala., to help with recovery after Hurricane Katrina. She visited shut-ins and was a member of the women’s association. She went to Turkey in 2014. 

Survivors include two daughters, Sandra Zink Thompson and husband Glenn Thompson of Ocala, Fla., and Barbara Lynn Haase and husband John Haase of Dongola; grandchildren Holly Hayward of Hudson, Wis., Heidi McCarty and husband Charlie of Minnesota, Hayley Thompson of Ocala, Fla., Melissa Corbit and husband Nathan Corbit of Vienna and Sean P. Haase; 12 great-grandchildren; other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her only brother, Robert Fife, who died during World War II over Germany; and by three sisters, Glenna Louise Fife Whitten, Dorothy Jane Fife Ash and Elaine Fife Riley.

A memorial service will  be held at noon on Saturday, Dec. 14, at the First Evangelical Presbyterian Church at 315 South St. in Anna. A short time of visitation will precede the service.

Memorials can be made to the missions fund at the First Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Anna.